Guidebook for Washington, DC

Beth
Guidebook for Washington, DC

Food Scene

DC has a thriving food scene. Here we feature just some of our favorite nearby spots in Capitol Hill, H Street Corridor, and Navy Yard.
Consider this spot Old Faithful. This scratch Italian kitchen features homemade pasta and a reliable brunch. The bottomless mimosas are tasty and strong!
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Lavagna
539 8th St SE
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Consider this spot Old Faithful. This scratch Italian kitchen features homemade pasta and a reliable brunch. The bottomless mimosas are tasty and strong!
This art-deco style diner features boozy milkshakes, homemade Ted’s [Pop] Tarts, and many other options on their varied menu. Just be sure to call ahead (202-544-8337) because there's almost always a wait.
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Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SE
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This art-deco style diner features boozy milkshakes, homemade Ted’s [Pop] Tarts, and many other options on their varied menu. Just be sure to call ahead (202-544-8337) because there's almost always a wait.
This small spot is hidden in plain sight on H Street. It features some of the best ramen in the city and offers a hipster vibe.
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Toki Underground
1234 H St NE
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This small spot is hidden in plain sight on H Street. It features some of the best ramen in the city and offers a hipster vibe.
One of the best restaurants in DC (with a Michelin star to prove it)! Make sure to check out their website for information on making a reservation. This is a gorgeous restaurant with fantastic food, and it is very accommodating to any dietary restrictions, all at a very reasonable price.
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Rose's Luxury
717 8th St SE
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One of the best restaurants in DC (with a Michelin star to prove it)! Make sure to check out their website for information on making a reservation. This is a gorgeous restaurant with fantastic food, and it is very accommodating to any dietary restrictions, all at a very reasonable price.
Modern Chinese and Korean cuisine. Great for carry-out... or dining in if you're lucky enough to grab a spot at this popular casual dining spot.
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CHIKO
423 8th St SE
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Modern Chinese and Korean cuisine. Great for carry-out... or dining in if you're lucky enough to grab a spot at this popular casual dining spot.
Treat yourself to a Michelin star dinner just blocks away from your home away from home! Little Pearl's vibe and fare is both upscale and accessible. They offer a fixed menu by reservation and are extremely flexible when it comes to dietary preferences/restrictions.
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Little Pearl
921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
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Treat yourself to a Michelin star dinner just blocks away from your home away from home! Little Pearl's vibe and fare is both upscale and accessible. They offer a fixed menu by reservation and are extremely flexible when it comes to dietary preferences/restrictions.
This food hall opened in Summer 2020 and features a variety of options, including tacos, sushi, NY style pizza, and craft cocktails.
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The Roost
1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
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This food hall opened in Summer 2020 and features a variety of options, including tacos, sushi, NY style pizza, and craft cocktails.
Spanish tapas restaurant boasting a handsome interior as well as patio seating. This also serves as a great happy hour spot that features specials on drinks and food.
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Joselito Casa de Comidas
660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
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Spanish tapas restaurant boasting a handsome interior as well as patio seating. This also serves as a great happy hour spot that features specials on drinks and food.
Belga Cafe offers solid Belgian cuisine, including several mussel pots. It also features a great brunch.
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Belga Café
514 8th St SE
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Belga Cafe offers solid Belgian cuisine, including several mussel pots. It also features a great brunch.
This place is just fun. It features creative sushi and pan-Asian cuisine, and it is very vegan friendly!
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Sticky Rice
1224 H St NE
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This place is just fun. It features creative sushi and pan-Asian cuisine, and it is very vegan friendly!
At a first glance, you might not realize that this fast casual spot is entirely plant based! It features creative appetizers, bowls, and rotating specials.
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Pow Pow
1253 H St NE
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At a first glance, you might not realize that this fast casual spot is entirely plant based! It features creative appetizers, bowls, and rotating specials.
This is one of our favorite casual spots. The cocktails are delicious, and there are a variety of tacos -- including three vegan options. The guacamole is a must!
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Taco City DC
1102 8th St SE
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This is one of our favorite casual spots. The cocktails are delicious, and there are a variety of tacos -- including three vegan options. The guacamole is a must!
This Indian restaurant features a large and attractive dining room that is perfect for groups and couples alike. The extensive menu features options marked for specific diets, and the generous portions likely mean you will walk out with a to-go bag!
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Bombay Street Food
1413 Park Rd NW
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This Indian restaurant features a large and attractive dining room that is perfect for groups and couples alike. The extensive menu features options marked for specific diets, and the generous portions likely mean you will walk out with a to-go bag!
A self-proclaimed "Jew-ish Deli" that features tasty bagel sandwiches.
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Call Your Mother – Capitol Hill
701 8th St SE
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A self-proclaimed "Jew-ish Deli" that features tasty bagel sandwiches.
Located in Navy Yard, this is our favorite bagel shop because it offers two types of vegan cream cheese! It also has a wide variety of bagel flavors. Check out their website to order ahead for easy pick-up.
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Bethesda Bagels
4819 Bethesda Ave
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Located in Navy Yard, this is our favorite bagel shop because it offers two types of vegan cream cheese! It also has a wide variety of bagel flavors. Check out their website to order ahead for easy pick-up.
Located in Navy Yard, this beautiful restaurant offers top notch New American fare that caters to a verity of dietary restrictions. A great option for dinner, brunch, or happy hour!
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Chloe
1331 4th St SE
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Located in Navy Yard, this beautiful restaurant offers top notch New American fare that caters to a verity of dietary restrictions. A great option for dinner, brunch, or happy hour!
Checkout this awesome bakery located just two blocks from the Airbnb! This is a great pick for a hot breakfast on-the-go, pastries, donuts, and coffee. It just so happens everything is gluten free, with a few vegan options, too!
Sweet Crimes Gluten-Free Bakery
Checkout this awesome bakery located just two blocks from the Airbnb! This is a great pick for a hot breakfast on-the-go, pastries, donuts, and coffee. It just so happens everything is gluten free, with a few vegan options, too!
Locals love the smoked burgers, cocktails, family-friendly atmosphere, and jukebox at this cute and casual eatery. Hill East Burger is 2 blocks from the Airbnb and features daily happy hour, indoor/outdoor seating, and weekend brunch. (Note: the menu includes gluten-free and vegetarian items, but fully vegan options are very limited.)
Hill East Burger
Locals love the smoked burgers, cocktails, family-friendly atmosphere, and jukebox at this cute and casual eatery. Hill East Burger is 2 blocks from the Airbnb and features daily happy hour, indoor/outdoor seating, and weekend brunch. (Note: the menu includes gluten-free and vegetarian items, but fully vegan options are very limited.)

Drinks & Nightlife

There are tons of options across the city. Here we feature some nearby, perhaps lesser known watering holes that we enjoy!
Local dive located just around the corner. Unique decor and a jukebox!
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Trusty's
1420 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
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Local dive located just around the corner. Unique decor and a jukebox!
Year-round beer garden featuring liters of German brews, plus eats such as bratwurst & pretzels. Plenty of TVs to catch your favorite team.
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the brig
1007 8th St SE
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Year-round beer garden featuring liters of German brews, plus eats such as bratwurst & pretzels. Plenty of TVs to catch your favorite team.
This bar features 50 taps, including 5 side-pull taps specifically made to dispense lagers. The space at The Roost includes a beer garden, in addition to indoor seating within the food hall.
Shelter
1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
This bar features 50 taps, including 5 side-pull taps specifically made to dispense lagers. The space at The Roost includes a beer garden, in addition to indoor seating within the food hall.
BETSY is the rooftop bar located on top of Belga Cafe. You'll walk through an artful, Insta-worthy alley to locate this hidden gem.
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BETSY
514 8th St SE
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BETSY is the rooftop bar located on top of Belga Cafe. You'll walk through an artful, Insta-worthy alley to locate this hidden gem.
Barrel is a whisky bar that also boasts a tasty food menu. The main floor is generally lively and loud, so check out the basement if you are looking for a more intimate setting.
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Barrel
613 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
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Barrel is a whisky bar that also boasts a tasty food menu. The main floor is generally lively and loud, so check out the basement if you are looking for a more intimate setting.
We love coming to this Navy Yard brewery for a flight at the bar or outside under the heat lamps. It offers a large all-day menu and weekend brunch as well. The homemade everything pretzel with mustard and beer cheese is a favorite!
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Bluejacket
300 Tingey St SE
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We love coming to this Navy Yard brewery for a flight at the bar or outside under the heat lamps. It offers a large all-day menu and weekend brunch as well. The homemade everything pretzel with mustard and beer cheese is a favorite!

Parks & Nature

The U.S. Arboretum is gorgeous year-round, and it open daily until 5pm. Check out the bonsai garden, then stroll over to the old Capitol columns for a picnic!
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Arboretum
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The U.S. Arboretum is gorgeous year-round, and it open daily until 5pm. Check out the bonsai garden, then stroll over to the old Capitol columns for a picnic!
If you are looking for green space, picnic tables, and jogging paths along the river, this park is for you! You can access the park in under five minutes driving or by walking over Philip Sousa bridge.
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Anacostia Park
1500 Anacostia Dr
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If you are looking for green space, picnic tables, and jogging paths along the river, this park is for you! You can access the park in under five minutes driving or by walking over Philip Sousa bridge.
Lincoln Park is a popular neighborhood spot for outdoor activities. We love to grab takeout and picnic here on nice evenings!
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Lincoln Park
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Lincoln Park is a popular neighborhood spot for outdoor activities. We love to grab takeout and picnic here on nice evenings!
Rent kayaks and canoes in the shadow of Nationals Park!
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Boating In DC at Ballpark Boathouse
Potomac Avenue Southeast
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Rent kayaks and canoes in the shadow of Nationals Park!

Essentials

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Safeway
3830 Georgia Ave NW
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CVS
1418 P St NW
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Trader Joe's
750 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
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Yes! Organic Market Capitol Hill
410 8th St SE
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Shopping

Amazing local/gourmet food vendors, cute shops, and a couple places to get a nice drink. Definitely worth checking out!
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Union Market
1309 5th St NE
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Amazing local/gourmet food vendors, cute shops, and a couple places to get a nice drink. Definitely worth checking out!
This indoor market, filled with local grocers, is open Tuesday through Sunday. Additional craft and food vendors fill the adjacent streets on the weekends.
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Imarike yase-Eastern
225 7th St SE
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This indoor market, filled with local grocers, is open Tuesday through Sunday. Additional craft and food vendors fill the adjacent streets on the weekends.
Local bookstore with very helpful staff!
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East City Bookshop
645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
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Local bookstore with very helpful staff!
This local game shop is the perfect place to pick out your next board game! They host regular community gaming nights. The staff is extremely helpful if you need recommendations. It also features a large section of children's toys and games.
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Labyrinth Games & Puzzles
645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
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This local game shop is the perfect place to pick out your next board game! They host regular community gaming nights. The staff is extremely helpful if you need recommendations. It also features a large section of children's toys and games.
On one side of the food hall, you will find Cameo Coffee and Shop Made DC. This storefront sells all kinds of home goods, gourmet items, and accessories-- all made by DC based artisans and companies. This is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir or gift!
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The Roost
1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
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On one side of the food hall, you will find Cameo Coffee and Shop Made DC. This storefront sells all kinds of home goods, gourmet items, and accessories-- all made by DC based artisans and companies. This is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir or gift!
This locally owned kitchen shop offers tons of gift options for home cooks and features some DC themed items that make great souvenirs.
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Hill's Kitchen
713 D St SE
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This locally owned kitchen shop offers tons of gift options for home cooks and features some DC themed items that make great souvenirs.

Getting Around

DC boasts excellent public transportation options. You might also be interested in checking out scooters, which have grown in popularity. Lime and Spin are the most common options. You'll need to download their apps to locate scooters in your area.
It's just across the street :-) You can use Google Maps for directions on navigating the train/bus lines. Plan to purchase your Metro SmartTrip ahead of your train's arrival time!
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Potomac Ave Station
700 14th St SE
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It's just across the street :-) You can use Google Maps for directions on navigating the train/bus lines. Plan to purchase your Metro SmartTrip ahead of your train's arrival time!
The closest Capital Bikeshare is located on the corner of Pennsylvania Ave and Potomac Ave SE, in front of the AT&T store. Bikeshare stations are dispersed across the city and offer a great way to get around!
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Capital Bikeshare
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The closest Capital Bikeshare is located on the corner of Pennsylvania Ave and Potomac Ave SE, in front of the AT&T store. Bikeshare stations are dispersed across the city and offer a great way to get around!

Entertainment & Activities

Go Nats!
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I-Nationals Park
1500 S Capitol St SE
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Go Nats!
Is bad weather throwing a wrench in your plans? This hipster movie theater offers daily showings of independent movies, along with a full bar!
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Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market
550 Penn St NE
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Is bad weather throwing a wrench in your plans? This hipster movie theater offers daily showings of independent movies, along with a full bar!
Home to the Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics, this arena also regularly hosts concerts and other major events.
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Capital One Arena
601 F St NW
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Home to the Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics, this arena also regularly hosts concerts and other major events.
This is a cool restaurant, bar, and music venue featuring local and national names.
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The Hamilton
600 14th St NW
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This is a cool restaurant, bar, and music venue featuring local and national names.